Throughout the decades, the Philippines has been consistent in its efforts to close the gender gap in the workplace and to open up more opportunities for women. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2021, the Philippines was one of 18 countries in the world that had closed at least 79.5% of economic participation and opportunity gaps. This upward trajectory towards inclusive development has allowed for more Filipino women to not only enter but also actively participate in the labour market.
The consistently progressive status of Filipino women in the workforce is not an accident; it is the result of collective national efforts through law and policymaking. Present laws and policies in the country have provided opportunities for women to fruitfully engage in the workforce through reasonable accommodations.
In 1997, the Philippine Supreme Court recognised that the country's Constitution – cognisant of the disparity in rights between men and women in almost all phases of social and political life – provides a range of protective provisions for women.1 The Declaration of Principles and State Policy, under article II(14), specifically acknowledges the contribution of women to nation-building and directs the state to continuously uphold the fundamental equality of women and men before the law. According to article XIII(3), the state must:
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